Boldly Sawing

Chainsaws have been a part of my life, well, for a long time. I have been helping to promote chainsaw safety and modern cutting methods ever since my first safety course, and recently I helped with a training course for women at the Dixon Springs Ag Center. We spent most of the first day inside doing saw rehab and sharpening, and by the time we went outside, all twelve of the students were able to sharpen a saw with a jig, and also freehand.

Our first cutting exercise taught the students how to perform a bore cut. The bore cut is considered to be an advanced technique by some, but I teach it first, because the bore cut is what separates chainsaw use from axes and crosscut saws. Once students are proficient in bore cutting, they are able to use a chainsaw to its full potential, and they can set trees up to drop
safely and accurately.

This was an enthusiastic class, and during our next session everyone will learn the process of falling a tree, limbing, and bucking.